“The King of the Desert” is one boy's search to find out who he really is in an environment that does not encourage self-expression. His journey begins in a barrio in Texas and eventually leads to The Julliard School and appearances on Broadway.

“This play is an “against all odds” look at how cultural history and personal mythology which some think might limit us, can actually set us free.The play takes us on a Mexican American journey that explores a universal struggle to become our most authentic selves.”

"The King Of The Desert" grew out of author Stacey Martino's hunger to understand her husband's life and to learn about her daughter's Mexican American heritage. It was her own journey into the past in order to bring their family closer and alchemize the more difficult aspects of life. It grew into a wish to empower other people with similar stories across diverse communities. It is a story that weaves together her version of her husband's mythology, stories his family shared with her, and a rich cultural lineage that deserves to be explored at this time in America. It is her greatest hope that this play not only provides insights into a unique culture but reminds us how much we have in common as human beings.